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Or perhaps fans of Weezer? Rivers Cuomo is pretty cool. I know In-n-Out, and the idea is spot on. JC's has been in my mind for a while. The building size of a Checkers/Rally's, a simpler menu than In-N-Out (think just cheeseburger, fries, drinks), but the service style of a White Castle. Burger Buckets (6 pack), Cheesy Chests (10 pack), but burgers just a itty-bitty smaller than McD's Quarter Pounder. Dont worry, the taste will be immaculate. All burgers come dressed with a lettuce leaf, a tomato slice, an onion slice, and 2 pickles (customer can request them off, easier for kitchen staff), and all sauces are available in packet form (ketchup, mustard, mayo, relish, and a couple oddities like buffalo). All for the sake of simple customer service and the reduction of staff stress. No cheese sticks, no onion rings, no chicken sammiches, no wraps... I Just Sell Cheeseburgers. JC's. River wants the bigger towel because he won't be able to stop staring at Gav's Red Bull can. We'll see a bit more of River's closeted mindset on Sunday...

I miss our Waffle Houses!!! 😫😫😫 The guy that owned the three in town was arrested for tax evasion and they all closed. Now I have to deal with Denny's... and it's not the same.

Maybe she should start reading too 😏 (just kidding... maybe). Great comment to wake up to!

Oh, man! Y'all need to get a Rally's/Checkers, just for their fries. Perfectly cooked every time, and they have a beautiful seasoning. I'm tickled pink to know I'm a favorite. Also, Italy!!! 👀 Going there's on my bucket list.

Thanks for reading, Chris! The next chapter's slated to publish this time on Sunday.

Log Tuesday 8/17/19 10:33a I couldn’t help it. I had to get my phone out and write. Finally! Away from Eaton. If I’m being honest, I can’t believe I survived four years of high school in that rat-hole town. No more Ryan, Chris, Guy, and Jordan. Fuck you for tripping me in the hallways, nailing me with dodgeballs, and stealing my homework before class. No more Lacy, Taylor, and Kenzie. Fuck you for chasing me at the sixth-grade dance and rubbing your nasty-ass titties on me. To this day, I b

This journal is supposed to help me get through life. Write what happened for the day, then reflect upon the words. Since I started my sophomore year in high school, it's become a daily activity. These entries certainly helped me through some bad times. Let's hope college won't be as brutal. I guess I should put this away. Got a long drive ahead of me. It's move-in day! I'm praying my roommate won't be an asshole and make fun of my art.

Funny. I was about to start posting a short story before catching this article. I've taken a short sabbatical from novels, finding a new love for short tales. Short stories can truly exercise a writer's muscles. They'll take your imagination to new lands. Test new genres, concepts, and potential universes for you to play in. Wonderful article!

I'd say Steffy's a little arrogant. There's no fun in squishing harmless insects, right? And if that's your idea of a good time, the bigger noise, the better. Sounds like Stefan wants a grand fight...

Did everyone enjoy the Secret Author contest? I certainly did, both writing and reading. But now that it's the first Wednesday of the month, it should be no secret what's coming up. Time for another edition of Ask An Author! This month, we have @Salander! Let's see what questions we got for 'em... • • • • • Salander 1 Story / 121,143 Words What brought you to GA? I honestly don’t remember…I started following GA as a lurker back in high school (10-ish years ago). I’ve been big into reading and writing since I was a preteen and knew I was LGBT pretty early on, so just wandered here eventually. I only made an account last year and posted my first story shortly after, per my partner’s encouragement. I’ve always been really self-conscious about sharing my fictive writing, so the amount of support I’ve gotten here has been overwhelming, but also so heartwarming and valuable as a new author. How did you come up with the concept for You Complete Me? Hm. Being bored but luckily still employed during the pandemic, mostly. All of my stories start out as half-baked ideas that I can’t get out of my head until I eventually put something down on paper, even if it’s just a scene. In the case of YCM, it was a sex scene, but then I found myself intrigued with who was involved. I kept adding more and more until two people in a sex scene became friends with benefits, who also needed other friends, family, and lives outside of each other, and those people had their own dilemmas to tie back to the original story. In other words, I just came up with Jake and Nic, and the concept sort of wrote itself around them, though there were a lot of themes I weaved into the story because they were prominent in my own life in some way: i.e., ADHD, anxiety, addiction, trauma…and playing rugby. All of your characters are extremely unique, complex, and realistic. What is the inspiration behind them? What is it about a character that makes you want to tell their stories? Lots of gay romance stories (particularly those set in high school) pair the cute, twink-like character with the tall, dark, and handsome “straight”-acting jock, which is great, but I wanted to do something a little different with Jake and Nic. So, I ended up with a troubled and snarky twink-like character and a well-meaning, attractive-yet-insecure jock unwillingly falling for each other. I think those personas felt more natural for a couple of older teens just trying to make it through the final years of high school. I got there by asking why they acted in certain ways and also taking some inspiration from my own life, as mentioned in the previous question. For example, why is Jake so unsure of himself, despite appearing to have it all from the outside? I’ve never been a popular jock in high school, but I do know the toll ADHD can take on your self-esteem. Why is Nic so prickly? My past isn’t as traumatic as Nic’s is, but I do know what it’s like to crave affection while also being afraid to accept it. As narcissistic as it may sound, I’m more inclined to tell their stories if I see myself in them. That’s not to say that either Jake or Nic are self-inserts (if anyone, maybe Shiv is), but they were extensions of my own mindset at different points in time, in different situations. Putting a bit of yourself into your work (just a bit!) has been the most effective way of writing more realistic characters that you care about as an author in my experience. What inspired you to become a writer? That’s a good question – I had to think on it for a while. I was an only child, and since I’m pretty introverted, I also had trouble making friends. Needless to say, I was bored and lonely quite a bit, which eventually turned into depression, and writing was a great way of escaping the parts of myself that I didn’t like very much. I could create fun situations and imagine myself in the shoes of characters that didn’t have my issues – and if they did, I could write a better ending for them, or have them handle those issues in ways I couldn’t. I wrote less and less as I got older, had less time, and found other coping mechanisms, but it’s always something I go back to when I need that escape. I didn’t really consider myself a “writer” until I started posting on GA. My fiancée inspired me to share in the first place, but my readers are why I continue to when I can. I like being able to provide that same escape to someone else that might need it. • • • • • Thanks for the interview, Salander! For those who enjoyed these responses, head on over to "You Complete Me." It's an ongoing story, so there's still time to get caught up. Catch y'all next month!

Thanks, Phredd! It's always the simple things with me. The many small tokens of appreciation will always outweigh the few grand gestures, in my opinion. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far!

It would probably be a big task but perhaps a bookmarking system, more or less aimed at stories with larger chapters. Although leaving the browser (window or tab) open can solve this, one could lose their place when reading. I'm unsure of the coding and technical aspect of how the software operates, and I'm certain it would be a daunting task to create. Perhaps imbedded within the mini-bar when a member highlights a word/passage and the "quote selection" button pops up when in forums/blogs/clubs. I'm imagining a second button for "bookmark" where when pressed, it creates an activity stream for "My Bookmarks". Unless I'm a dolt and this idea is already implemented, aside from following a story/saving it to one's browser favorites.

Lmao! Just as I'm about to conk out for the night... Happy binge sesh, and thanks for reading!

Now that I've ripped the Secret Author ducktape off my mouth, I'd like to thank everyone for reading! I had a blast writing this short tale.

I considered it an itty-bitty hint. Give out some 5's, then be a little harsh on myself. That, and I wanted to see if I could leave a review on my own stinkin' story... and it worked!

Always puts a smile on my face knowing you're reading again, Patch.

I... But... Augh! So much detail, both in the story and left out for future reading! I want to learn more about the brothers' separation, the ongoing Cloud Rider mystery, and whatever else the author had in their pocket. SA! Quit horsin' around. Start on the sequel!

World building here is perfectly spaced. No info-dumps to be found, and the details are spaced evenly. Follow Dashel and Tom on their journey to heal the ill. But they must be careful. Not all will be grateful to their ways...

Fantastic storytelling! Dashel is now on a path, seeking fairness. If he's not given that, then he will deliver mercy. Great work, Secret Author.

Hmm. Will Bob make a reappearance somewhere in the Stone Story verse? It'll have to be somewhere in the future...

A truly thought-provoking story. Heed the warning for abuse topics, but I suggest reading. This was a story you won't put down.

Excellent story, SA. I loved how Steven found a solace and peace within the church. There were times in my life I wish I could've, but He has yet to truly speak to me.

Thanks, Raven! 😊

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Thanks for reading, Chris!